Skitterjaws

 It is widely accepted that geometric patterns in ink, scar or star can control the flow of magic. This is why the constellations are called the Maker's Spellbook. 

For those who know this, a question is often asked: is the mind of the mage required, or does magic flow down any channel, heedless, irrgating the world with chaos?

The answers to these questions may be found in the shell of the Skitterjaw. Endemic to a single region of the frozen Republic of Wurmgar, these titan centipedes can be found stalking a wetland known as the Dead Fens.

The Dead Fens are part of the watershed of the River Vok, which skirts along the Grave Ridge, where the bones of gods are said to lie, and continues to distant Xarrac to the east. These fens are known for their blood-red algal blooms, and the huge spires of 'godbone', carried from the Grave Ridge by storms, landslides and ancient glaciation. 

The Skitterjaws themselves are apex predators, 20ft. long, with poisonous, greatsword sized mandibles. They hunt the giant toads and catoblepas of the Fens as their primary food, but will gladly eat folk, little morsels though they are. 

This is not what terrifies folk. What does terrify folk, keeping children and soldiers alike awake at night in nearby Tzorovik, is the Skitterjaws' use of powerful, primitive necromancy. 

In short, it reanimates its victims. A skitterjaw's horde of shambling, rotten zombies is never far behind it, mostly swamp fauna, but always with a few unfortunate folk shambling alongside.

The skitterjaws' use of the undead is threefold - first, they serve as excellent defense, either guarding the skitterjaw's feeding grounds or accompanying the creature itself. Second, they provide temperature control and defense for the beast by clinging to it, forming an 'armour' of corpses. Third, the mobile, sturdy undead provide perfect repositories for the fist-sized, glistening eggs of the Skitterjaw. 

Rival Skitterjaws have been observed using their hordes to resolve conflicts, with the winner reanimating the usable parts of the loser's legion, and the loser fleeing unharmed into the bogs. 

Stats for these horrible boys:

        Glog

Skitterjaw

Level 7 Def plate Jaws 2d6 (Save or take +1d6)

Move fast Climb spider Str 8 Int 3 Dis hungry

Zombies - A given Skitterjaw is surrounded by a horde of 3d6 shambling undead. Roughly a third will have large, translucent eggs protruding from their torsos, containing juvenile skitterlings. The Skitterjaw is violently protective of undead containing eggs, and uncaring for those that do not. The Skitterjaw can take one turn to raise any nearby corpse as a zombie. 

Thick Chitin - Any damage dealt by a slashing weapon is reduced to 1. On the other hand, smashing or bludgeoning weapons like hammers deal an extra 3 damage per attack, as the Chitin cracks and splits. 

Undead Armour - The Skitterjaw can command any number of zombies to cling to it, reducing incoming damage by one point for each two zombies. It knows to split its undead between armour and attackers. 

Phobia - Skitterjaws dislike leaving the comforting fogs of the Dead Fens, and hate direct sunlight or large fires. 

         D&D 5e

Skitterjaw

Huge Beast

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AC – 17

HP – 82

SPEED – 30ft., Climb 20ft. 

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STR – 18 (+4) 

DEX – 12 (+1) 

CON – 18 (+4) 

INT – 5 (-3) 

WIS – 14 (+2)

CHA – 6 (-2) 

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SAVING THROWS –

RESISTANCES – Slashing, Cold, Poison

VULNERABILITIES - Bludgeoning 

CONDITION IMMUNITIES – Stunned, Poisoned, Charmed 

SENSES – no special senses. Passive Perception 12

LANGUAGES – none

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TRAITS

Spider Climb 

Sunlight Sensitivity 

Undead Servitors - The Skitterjaw is accompanied by 3d6 zombies, roughly a third of which contain its eggs. 

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ACTIONS

Bite - reach, 5ft, +8 to Hit, 3d6 Piercing Damage, Con. Save or take 2d6 Poison Damage and become Poisoned, Save at end of turns. 

Undead Armour - As a bonus action, the Skitterjaw can command any number of zombies to cling onto it. It gains 5 Temporary HP per zombie employed in this manner, to a maximum of 80. While it has these temporary hit points, it is Vulnerable to fire and radiant damage, as the zombies are easily burnt. This vulnerability does not carry over into it's actual HP. 

Raise Undead - As an action, the Skitterjaw can turn a corpse within 60ft. into a zombie.